ENGLAND were left with the task of making 214 to avoid their second innings defeat of the Ashes series.

After a morning of fielding blunders, Australia added 146 from their remaining five wickets today, with Adam Gilchrist thrashing 90 off 121 balls after being dropped three times and surviving another 'technical' chance on 49.

How much England's spirits were dampened by the forgettable opening session in the field remained to be seen. Certainly Australia would be lifted by another blast of positive and successful cricket which carried them to total of 401.

Gilchrist was missed twice at slip - by Mark Butcher and Mike Atherton - off straightforward chances and Ian Ward put down another opportunity at cover.

And a rocket cut clipped Butcher's fingers in the gully.

But at least the day held something special for Andy Caddick on the 20th anniversary of Bob Willis' eight-wicket blast to beat Australia in the Headingley Test of 1981.

Caddick finished with five for 101, his 10th five-wicket return in Tests and third against Australia. And in new Australian custom, picked up the ball and held it aloft to signal his five wickets, as Glenn McGrath had done yesterday.

Atherton offered a very difficult chance, not accepted, to Matthew Hayden in the gully on nought. The ball skidded on towards third man for the second runs off the bat in the first five overs, Marcus Trescothick driving Jason Gillespie straight for three beforehand.

But that proved to be Trescothick's only scoring stroke. For the second time in the match, the left-hander's feet were planted to the spot as he nicked a catch behind to Gilchrist - eight for one after 5.2 overs, that start England scarcely needed.

When Butcher arrived, Australia had only two men in a defensive positions, Brett Lee at cover and McGrath at fine leg.